Visiting Calgary, you can see that this is a thoroughly modern city with a young and vibrant population. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find a range of super cool old-school vintage Calgary destinations that are well worth checking out on your next trip there. Here’s a list of some of our favourite vintage Calgary places and spaces:
Hy’s Steakhouse has been operating since 1955, serving up perfect steaks and classic martinis. Come here for a sophisticated date or when you want to impress an important client. The decor and service is impeccably classy, and everything on the menu is just wonderful.
The Glenbow Museum was opened in 1966 to showcase material relating to the history of western Canada, and is a fantastic place to go and lean more about vintage Calgary (and beyond). There you’ll find artifacts relating to the oil and gas industry, indigenous and Asian art, and various visiting exhibitions.
Smuggler’s Inn has gone through a change in name (originally it was called Bar X Steakhouse when it opened in 1967) and ownership, but has been essentially serving up the same kind of food – steak and ribs – for 40 years. Locals love the legendary soup and salad bar that comes with your entree.
Heritage Park opened in 1964 and is Canada’s largest living history museum. There you’ll find a huge array of artifacts relating to live in Calgary going back centuries. Visit the recreated 1910 prairie railway town, a fur-trappers settlement from the 1800s, and the Gasoline Alley Museum and Heritage Town Square that showcases life from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Heritage Park hosts some awesome special events, including dinner and a movie nights at it’s onsite vintage Selkirk Restaurant.
Vinyl buffs will really dig Recordland, which opened in 1979 and is a music library beyond compare, with walls stacked floor to ceiling with vinyl. Recordland is said to have a million records in store, and also has 8-track and cassettes available for purchase.
Osteria Chef’s Table has been dishing up fine Italian food since 1976, though the restaurant’s original name was Osteria Medici. The menu offers a modern take on classic Italian dishes, and everything they serve up in the welcoming and cosy dining room is delicious.
Calgary’s Inglewood Neighbourhood dates back from 1875, and is centred around a highly walkable high street full of cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. This is a great place to waste away a morning or afternoon, treating yourself to lots of delicious goodies.
True history buffs will want to check out the year-round events put on by the Chinook Country Historic Society, which also hosts a Calgary Historic Week every August.
Peter’s Drive-In is a Calgary institution, serving up delicious burgers, shakes, and fries since 1964. This is one of those places you have to visit in the city – because everyone you meet will have a Peter’s story, the place is legendary amongst locals.
Next time you’re visiting Calgary, be sure to come stay with us. Our luxurious Calgary suites are centrally located so that you can get to all these attractions and more. Contact us to see how we can meet your needs next time you’re visiting the city.
